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1From withdrawal management to treatment
Detox and rehab Pennsylvania
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Detox is often the first step in the road to recovery, but it is just one step. Detox alone will not change the compulsive behaviors that underlie addiction. A formal drug rehab program following detox is essential to lasting recovery.

Detox and Rehab: Two Different Stages
Detox clears the body of drugs while rehab works on changing behavior patterns. Detox can be dangerous if done alone at home so it's best to seek professional help when detoxing. Rehab helps people who have been through detox change their behaviors and live drug-free lives.
In order for the mind to catch up with the healing of the body, rehabilitation must occur following medical detoxification. Once detoxification has been completed and the brain has begun to heal, therapy sessions can begin to focus on the psychological aspects of addiction, including triggers, stress management, and relapse prevention planning. The process of recovery is a lifelong journey that doesn't end once you have finished rehab or detox.
Detoxification is often considered the first stage in an addiction treatment program, followed by rehab and then aftercare.
Why Detox Alone Is Not Enough
Detoxification alone rarely produces lasting abstinence from drug use.
Medically assisted detoxification can be accomplished in either an inpatient or outpatient setting, depending on patient preference and physician recommendation. Typically, the more severe the addiction and/or underlying medical problems, the greater the need for medically managed withdrawal. In all cases, patients should be carefully monitored during the detoxification process by a physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker, psychiatrist, counselor, or other skilled professional trained in addiction medicine.
Medically assisted detoxification is most effective when followed by formal drug abuse treatment and ongoing medical care as well as patient participation in a supportive recovery program such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Detoxification should be viewed as only the first step of an overall process. Medically managed withdrawal can provide a safe environment in which individuals can begin the long road to recovery.
Treatment for addiction involves behavioral counseling, medication, or a combination of the two. Behavioral counseling helps people overcome their addiction by changing their attitudes and behaviors related to substance abuse. Counseling can also help a person learn how to cope with life stressors that led to addiction. It is important for a patient to stay in treatment and participate fully in it.
Research indicates that detoxification is most effective when followed by drug addiction treatment such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or 12-step programming. In general, long-term drug abuse can lead to changes in the brain, and while detoxification may manage many of these effects, it does not reverse them.
Programs That Offer Both Detox and Rehab
Hospital detoxification and hospital rehabilitation can be combined into one program, but the two types of care are often provided at separate programs. For example, someone may attend inpatient rehabilitation at a facility that has a detox unit and a rehab unit.
There are also residential facilities for both detox and rehab. They may be called "residential treatment" or "long-term residential treatment," and they can last from a few days to several weeks or months. These programs offer a safe, secure environment in which you can stay during the process of overcoming addiction.
The focus is on withdrawing from substances safely, but many do not offer any kind of ongoing treatment or support. To prevent relapse, it is important for recovering individuals to begin therapy and participate in other forms of addiction treatment immediately after detox. Some detox programs will have relationships with outpatient or residential rehab centers where clients can receive the additional services they need.
The focus of an addiction treatment program is to help patients heal from their substance abuse problem by teaching them how to live without drugs and alcohol.
Once you're clean, there are still many challenges that lie ahead. These include:
- Learning new ways of dealing with life's problems
- Managing stress
- Changing your friends and the places you hang out
- Finding new activities to fill your time
Moving From Detox Into Treatment
Patients may be referred to treatment programs located on the same site as detoxification services or elsewhere in the community. Detoxification can be followed by outpatient counseling and/or intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, residential treatment, or hospital-based treatment.
Formal assessment and referral should follow all detoxification episodes. Because clients who complete a formal medical detoxification may be relatively free of physical discomfort, it is important to provide them with a brief educational session on the consequences and symptoms of relapse and the importance of entering drug treatment as soon after detoxification as possible.
It is also important for persons completing detoxification to receive information about local support groups and services that can assist them in maintaining their recovery. After leaving a detox unit, these clients should be referred to a treatment facility or individual therapist. The transition from a medical setting to the community requires special attention to facilitate entry into drug addiction treatment.
Choosing the Right Level of Care After Detox
Outpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization all follow detox but are not residential. After leaving detox, you may continue at home with medication, individual therapy, group therapy, peer support groups, and family counseling.
A medically managed residential program can offer 24-hour professional supervision, along with group therapy and other behavioral therapies. If you need to remain under close medical observation while you recover from your addiction, then an inpatient residential program may be right for you.
After you leave detox, there are several ways to continue your treatment:
- Outpatient counseling, intensive outpatient care, or partial hospitalization after medically managed detox
- Residential treatment (sometimes called inpatient or residential rehab) after medically managed detox
In general, people need more structured care when they're just starting out in treatment, or if their addiction is very severe. They may also require more support for a long period of time if they have other mental health problems such as depression. Some people do well with less structure; they may be able to transition from hospital-based detoxification to outpatient counseling and make regular visits to the hospital or clinic to receive medication.
A residential treatment program provides 24-hour supervision. Many include an inpatient detox unit, followed by daily treatment services (group therapy and individual therapy).
If you have severe mental health problems such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in addition to substance use disorders, you will need to seek treatment through programs that specialize in dual diagnosis. These programs can help you get relief from mental symptoms without using drugs or alcohol.
Medications That Continue After Detox
Methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone help people continue their recovery after detox. They may help with cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and preventing relapse.
Methadone is a long-acting opioid medicine. It can be used to treat opioid addiction or dependence. You take it once a day by mouth. Methadone is only available in certain clinics that have special licenses to dispense it.
Buprenorphine treats withdrawal and may continue to treat cravings even after detox is complete; buprenorphine is a partial agonist, meaning it binds with opioid receptors and reduces the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms while not producing the same effect as heroin or other opioids. It can be used in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Buprenorphine must be prescribed by a doctor to help reduce cravings and prevent relapse after detox.
Clonidine is a non-opioid medication that may help ease many of the symptoms of opioid withdrawal, like sweating, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, cramps, and muscle pain; however, it does not help with drug cravings. Clonidine can be taken in pill form or administered via transdermal patch.
Naltrexone helps reduce relapse after detox is complete by blocking the euphoric effect of opioids. Naltrexone may cause side effects, including nausea and headache. Naltrexone can also react with other medications you are taking. Talk to your doctor about the best option for after detox.
Risks of Leaving Detox Without a Treatment Plan
Leaving detox without ongoing care raises the risk that you will relapse. The cravings, physical symptoms, and psychological effects of addiction persist long after the initial withdrawal period. Even if you feel ready to handle life on your own, there is a greater chance that you will fall back into using. Your chances for a successful recovery improve significantly when you enter inpatient or outpatient care right away. In many cases, detox and rehab are offered through the same program so you can make a smooth transition from one stage of care to the next.
Detoxification is only part of the solution to substance abuse. In order to achieve lasting recovery, detox must be followed by an evidence-based substance abuse treatment program that includes behavioral therapy and counseling.
Relapsing during or soon after detox can put your physical health at risk. It can also result in loss of motivation to seek recovery. You may lose trust in yourself and in the treatment system if you fail to follow through with aftercare.
The risk is further increased by other factors including a lack of social support, having a history of depression or another mental illness, and family history of addiction. People with these risks should try to seek additional support from their doctors and counselors after detoxification. Detox alone is not enough for long-term recovery.
The body becomes less tolerant to drugs once detoxification is complete, making it easier to experience an overdose.
Paying for Detox and Rehab in Pennsylvania
If you're not on Medicaid but need help paying for behavioral health care, you can contact your county mental health office. There are also programs that can help you pay for substance use disorder treatment.
If you have insurance, be sure to check with your provider about what type of care they cover.
Finding a Program in Pennsylvania
Care Provider Search lists licensed drug and alcohol addiction treatment facilities, detoxification programs, residential rehabilitation programs, halfway houses, and outpatient centers in Pennsylvania. The Care Provider Search tool also includes information about each facility such as licensure status, program type(s), and insurance accepted.
Treatment Atlas helps compare licensed facilities based on location, services offered, insurance accepted, and other criteria. Treatment Atlas provides a wide range of information to help those seeking substance use disorder services make an informed decision including the treatment levels offered by each facility, how to contact them, and whether they accept certain insurances. All programs listed on Treatment Atlas are licensed by DDAP.
Single County Authorities can help with treatment, detox, and rehab for an individual with substance use disorder or dual diagnosis.
If you are seeking alcohol or drug treatment and do not have insurance, the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has funding to assist in paying for services. There is a process that you will need to follow.
If you are ready to seek help for substance abuse and/or addiction, there are various programs in Pennsylvania that offer treatment services. These include detoxification programs, residential care, outpatient rehab programs, sober living houses, and support groups.
Detox and rehab by Pennsylvania city
Addresses and phones are on each city page.